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Updated: Mar 3, 2026

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Polyamine Metabolism as a Metabolic Vulnerability in Prostate Cancer Treated with Supraphysiological Androgens
Mohammadreza Alizadeh-Ghodsi1,2, Andrew S Goldstein3,4,5,6
1Department of Urologic Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Cyclic supraphysiologic androgen (SPA) therapy for prostate cancer alters cell metabolism by increasing polyamine synthesis and depleting S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Inhibiting polyamine production with DFMO enhances SPA
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Metabolic pathways
- Androgen receptor signaling
Background:
- Prostate cancer progression is driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling.
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is initially effective but often leads to castration-resistant disease.
- The mechanisms behind the tumor-suppressive effects of cyclic supraphysiologic androgen (SPA) therapy remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the metabolic mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of SPA in prostate cancer.
- To investigate the role of polyamine biosynthesis and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) metabolism in SPA response.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting metabolic pathways in combination with SPA.
Main Methods:
- Investigated AR-dependent gene expression and metabolic profiling in prostate cancer models treated with SPA.
- Utilized genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1) with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO).
- Conducted a clinical trial combining DFMO with bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) to assess polyamine levels in patients.
Main Results:
- SPA induces AR-dependent polyamine biosynthesis via ODC1 and AMD1, leading to elevated polyamine levels and depleted SAM.
- Inhibition of ODC1 with DFMO enhances SPA-induced growth suppression by disrupting polyamine pools and exacerbating SAM depletion.
- Clinical trial showed reduced circulating polyamines in patients treated with DFMO and BAT, confirming polyamine pathway suppression.
Conclusions:
- Androgen signaling, polyamine metabolism, and therapeutic response are mechanistically linked in prostate cancer.
- Targeting metabolic dependencies, specifically polyamine biosynthesis, represents a promising strategy to enhance SPA efficacy.
- This study provides a rationale for combining metabolic inhibitors with androgen-based therapies for improved prostate cancer treatment.
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